These young ladies each receive a $300 scholarship courtesy of Scholarship Associates.

The final preliminary award of the evening went to Miss Anaheim's Outstanding Teen Cameron Doan. She received top score in the Evening Wear/On Stage Question portion, receiving a $300 scholarship sponsored by the Preliminary Pageant Association.

This evening in Miss California competition, the Alpha Group will compete in On Stage Question, the Beta Group will compete in Swimsuit & Evening Wear categories, and the Gamma Group will compete in the Talent competition. In the final night of Miss California's Outstanding Teen preliminary competition, the Omega Group will compete in both Talent and Physical Fitness, while the Tau Group will compete in the Evening Wear/On Stage Question portion.

Along with their respective scholarship, each of our preliminary award winners received trophies commemorating their achievement. The Miss California Organization thanks our sponsor California Trophy for their generous contribution to our program.

Miss California begins preliminary competition

Pianist wins first-night talent award

Miss California and Miss California's Outstanding Teen kicked off the 2018 competition Wednesday at the William Saroyan Theatre in downtown Fresno. Taking home the Miss California Preliminary Talent Award for the Beta Group and a $500 scholarship sponsored by the Fresno/Clovis Visitors and Convention Bureau is Miss Barbary Coast Nikki Holbrook. Nikki performed Edward Grieg's “Concerto in A Minor” on the piano.

Miss Hollywood Sarell Diamond in swimwear by Kandice Pelletier

Tie in fitness competition

Tying for the Miss California Preliminary Lifestyle and Swimsuit in Fitness award for the Alpha Group are Miss Hollywood Sarell Diamond and Miss San Francisco Sarah Dahdouh. Each wore custom swimwear designed by Kandice Pelletier Swimwear, and both women will receive a $300 scholarship sponsored by the Preliminary Pageant Association. This is the final year for Miss California contestants to compete in Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit as the competition will be retired beginning with Miss America on September 9.

Miss San Francisco Sarah Dahdouh in the Lifestyle and Fitness competition

This evening in Miss California competition, the Alpha Group will compete in On Stage Question, the Beta Group will compete in Swimsuit & Evening Wear categories, and the Gamma Group will compete in the Talent competition. The competition will begin directly after completion of the teen preliminary. Catch all the action via our live stream at MissCalifornia.org/live, brought to you by Nexstar Broadcasting, CBS 47 Fresno, and Live Light Technologies.

(FRESNO, CA) Hollins University, a four-year private institution of higher education located in Roanoke, Virginia, will be joining the team of scholarship donors for the Miss California Organization.

For all ‘Teen’ or ‘Miss’ contestants that have not attended college; Hollins University will provide up to a $20,000 in renewable scholarship to any contestant in the 2018 Miss California competition who applies, is admitted and decides to attend Hollins as a first-year student.

For any ‘Miss’ contestant or transfer student; Hollins University will provide up to a $18,000 in renewable scholarship to any contestant in the 2018 Miss California Competition who applies, is admitted and decides to attend Hollins as a first-year student.

“We are thrilled to have the support of Hollins University and hope to see our 2018 contestants take advantage of the generous scholarship donation they are providing,” Patricia Murray, CEO & Executive Director, Miss California Organization.

The 2018 Miss California & Miss California’s Outstanding Teen state finals preliminary competition will take place at the Saroyan Theatre in Downtown Fresno, June 27-29. Miss California’s Outstanding Teen 2018 will be crowned on Friday, June 29th. Miss California 2018 will be crowned on Saturday, June 30th.

About the Miss California Organization:

The Miss California Scholarship Organization is a volunteer based 501c(3) non-profit organization which was founded in 1924. As the Official State Final to Miss America, the Miss California Organization has awarded more than $6 million in cash and academic scholarships Miss California Organization | since the competition made its home in Fresno in 1990. Nurturing an ideal of beauty that includes dignity, courage, intelligence, creative talent and kindness, the successful contestants demonstrate a genuine commitment to serving others. Every year the Miss California’s Outstanding Teen and Miss California contestants make significant contributions to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by raising funds and spreading awareness throughout the state. To learn more, visit misscalifornia.org.

Hollins is an independent liberal arts university dedicated to academic excellence and humane values. Hollins University offers undergraduate liberal arts education for women, selected graduate programs for men and women, and community outreach initiatives. The Hollins curriculum and cocurricular programs prepare students for lives of active learning, fulfilling work, personal growth, achievement, and service to society.

The Hollins community sustains talented students engaged in challenging study, and productive scholars and artists devoted to teaching and to the advancement of knowledge. Experiential learning, study abroad, and internships enhance the academic program. The hallmarks of a Hollins education are creativity and effective self-expression, problem solving and critical thinking skills, and independent inquiry and the free exchange of ideas.

Hollins nurtures civility, integrity, and concern for others, encourages and values diversity and social justice, and affirms the equal worth of women and men. Our university motto, Levavi Oculos, calls us to leadership and service in accord with the Hollins values and traditions.

We have now crowned all of our titleholders for 2017. Congratulations to those that are already a part of the Class of 2018.

For those of you who have participated in a local but didn't take home the crown, you have an opportunity to meet and greet with Miss America 2018 Cara Mund and Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018 Jessica Baeder. They are both coming to the competition in Fresno this June and we are creating an event for just our local contestants. This will be your chance to be one on one with the women who have the job(s) you aspire to obtain. It is truly a once in a lifetime chance. Local contestants can also earn tickets to the Miss California Finals and the Invitation Only President's Reception. You can drive up to Fresno, meet Miss America, come to the President's Reception and then sit in excellent seats for the finals.

There are opportunities for our Titleholders of the Class of 2018 to create their own section of the Competition Magazine and our Princesses to have a Tea with Miss America and Miss America's Outstanding Teen. Read the packet below and watch the video for all the details!!

The Miss California Organization is excited to announce the 2016 Miss California's Outstanding Teen Pageant schedule. Held entirely at Fresno's William Saroyan Theatre, the preliminary competitions will be held Tuesday, June 28, Wednesday, June 29, and Thursday, June 30. Each preliminary competition will begin at 7:00 PM PST. The final pageant will be held at 5:30 PM on Friday, July 1 2016. The winner of the pageant will go on to compete for the title of Miss America's Outstanding Teen this summer in Florida.

Miss California's Outstanding Teen Competition Line Up

The 47 Miss California's Outstanding Teen Contestants have been split in to three competition groups- Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Each night, each group will compete in a different area of preliminary competition. The Alpha contestants will have their personal interview with the judges Sunday afternoon, June 26. After interview, their next segment of competition will be Evening Wear and On Stage Question on Tuesday night, Fitness presented by Lorna Jane on Wednesday night, and finally, finish with Talent on Thursday night.

The Beta Group starts their competition schedule with Interview Monday morning. Tuesday night, Beta takes the stage in Talent, continuing with the Evening Wear and On Stage Question competitions on Wednesday night, and finishing with Fitness presented by Lorna Jane Thursday night.

The Gamma Group is the last group to complete the interview competition, scheduled for Tuesday morning, June 28. That evening, they'll compete in Fitness presented by Lorna Jane, followed by talent on Wednesday night, and finally, Evening Gown and On Stage Question on Thursday night.

Learn more about the 2016 Miss California's Outstanding Teen Pageant

Learn more about the 2016 Miss California's Outstanding Teen competition by heading to the official Facebook Event and RSVPing, and stay tuned for more information as it develops here and across the other MCO media channels!

It all started back in 2009, when a close friend of the family introduced me to the Miss Santa Clara Princess Program. A lot of 9 year olds dream of becoming a princess one day, and I happened to be one of those girls. So for me, the thought of the experience was close to a dream come true; however, what I didn’t know was the impact this entire organization would begin to make on me as I continued being a princess year after year.

In a mock interview one time, I was asked, “As a former princess in this program, do you feel the princess program is still relevant?” Just as I believe pageants are still relevant, I also believe that the princess program is definitely still relevant as well. Over my five years as a princess, I participated in the Miss Santa Clara / Miss Silicon Valley, Miss San Jose, Miss San Francisco, and Miss California princess programs. Each and every one of those princess programs taught me life skills such as manners, poise, confidence, and gave me the experience of having a princess-contestant bond with many contestants and local titleholders throughout the organization. And I feel that this has helped shaped me to be the person and the titleholder I am today.

One thing that I was taught by participating in the princess program is manners. In my own opinion, I feel like this is one of the most important attributes that a lot of teenagers of my generation seem to be lacking. My parent previously taught me the importance of manners. Since I was still at a young age, most of the manners touched on saying thank you every time you were given something, you’re not allowed to chew with your mouth open, and always address adults as Miss/Ms./Mrs./Mr. But participating in the princess program has helped me expand my manners. One of my personal favorites is when we would have a tea party in the Miss Santa Clara princess program and we had the table placements showing us exactly where each item / utensil went on the table. I think that having manners taught to us throughout our princess programs helped me become more poised as I got older.

Another thing that the princess program has taught me is that you don’t need a celebrity to look up to as your inspiration, and that you can just simply look onstage and see all these phenomenal woman are the better people to look up and aspire to be like. That’s exactly what I did. Not only that, but since I knew most of the titleholders on a more personal level it created a lot of bonds that I still have with most of them today. You may not get the level of closeness contestants have with each other, but they’ll always still be there to support you and cheer you on just as you do for them. One example of this is with one of my former Miss California’s Outstanding Teen contestants, Alissa Anderegg. She was my contestant back at the 2011 competition. I remember meeting her for the first time, and how excited I was for her when she won Miss Golden Gate’s Outstanding Teen, then later became my contestant at Miss California. During the week of Miss California 2011, she showed me SO much love and support throughout the entire week and is still one of the people I look up as she serves her title of Miss Johnston County (North Carolina) 2015. Another amazing I had was Miss Santa Clara’s Outstanding Teen 2011, Molly Crawford. She was the first contestant I had that had won, and I’ve looked up to her since the tea party I met her at. Along my journey as a contestant, she has been consistently positive and supportive. And now, I am so incredibly blessed to call Molly my miss.

The last thing that being a princess has taught me is that you should always have the confidence to believe yourself. Whether it would be going onstage getting crowned, dancing in front of hundreds of people, walking out to greet your contestant before evening gown, you learn to just become comfortable in your own skin and to be yourself. As a young girl, I was so incredibly shy, to the point I wouldn’t ever want to leave my parents' side. Thanks to competing in pageants and participating in the princess program, I'm a goofy chatterbox today. When I was competing for the titles of Miss Northern California Regional’s Outstanding Teen and Miss Gavilan Hills' Outstanding Teen 2015, I walked across that stage with a confidence that I had never had before. I felt truly comfortable being in my own skin and just being completely myself, and a lot of that I have to owe to this program- both competition wise and princess program wise.

Hi! My name is Cristina Bequer and I am proudly representing Culver City this year at Miss California. When you ask most people if they have ever been teased, more than likely their answer will be yes. If you ask someone if they have ever teased someone, again their answer will probably be yes. If so many people have been affected by teasing or bullying, why do we continue to do it? I would like to share my personal experience with bullying.

I remember when I was little, I would change my opinion or beliefs in order to fit in. I thought if I said and did the same thing others would do, I would be “popular.” This never really worked and I remember crying because I felt left out. I quickly realized that I needed to be myself, and as I got older I grew more confident. I kept myself busy with various activities and I started finding the ones I really enjoyed. I learned to portray myself as a confident individual due to my success in some of my activities. I was actively involved in dance, piano, 4-H, kung-fu, and any sport that was offered in my town.

When I started high school I started to get bullied. Thankfully not in a physical way, however I was bullied by adults. I was excluded from activities, told that I deserved to fail, and told I wasn’t meant to play a certain sport and should probably quit the team. I am thankful that I had as much family support as I did, because they kept my head up and encouraged me to stick to the things I enjoyed doing. I loved 4-H and when I got into the ring, I knew that I had to portray confidence in order to place well. The year that I won first in advanced goat showmanship, I was approached afterwards by the Miss Blythe directors. They asked me if I was interested in competing in the Miss Blythe’s Outstanding Teen pageant. I had never thought of myself as a pageant girl, I didn't know how to walk in heels, do my makeup or own a ton of dresses. But I decided to give it a shot and I ended up winning my first pageant. I had no idea how much of an impact the Miss America Organization would have on my life.Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to hold three titles (Miss Blythe’s Outstanding Teen 2012, Miss Blythe 2014, and Miss Culver City 2015.) Not only have I learned the confidence in myself, but I also realize that this job allows you to be a role model and public figure. You have the opportunity to make a difference during your year of service. I was able to gain confidence by being involved with different activities and clubs. I learned from a young age that service is very important. This is why I choose my platform of Youth Volunteering. Not only am I able to work with children to build confidence, but I get them involved, have them try new things and also make new friends.

I will admit that I was never popular throughout school. I wasn’t the cheerleader or the star athlete (the stereotypical people who I thought had their lives together and wanted to emulate.) Instead I was myself, and looking back I wouldn’t want to be anyone else. Throughout my young life I have learned that it is more important to be yourself because there is no one else like you. We each have something unique that we have to offer.

One last thing about bullies-and this is important. If you or someone you know is being hurt by a bully, get help. Your parents, guardians, school counselor, neighbor, administration at your school, basically any trusted adult can help you get it to stop. Don’t put up with any type of abuse. You are worth protecting.

Facing social pressures, body changes, and the battle between childhood and adulthood, teenagers begin to explore their identity. Along the way, these struggles build character and shape the person they will become. When a life-changing event occurs during these crucial years, the everyday conflicts teenagers face are compounded. External conflicts, such as chronic illnesses or family issues, cause teens to have a harder time making it through their toughest years. Even though the experiences are taxing, it is during this time teenagers learn how strong they have become.

Three years ago I felt fatigued and only wanted to sleep, no longer wanting to dance or hangout with friends. My parents took me to several doctors, yet we were never given a diagnosis. Eventually, I tested positive for autoimmune antibodies and was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. With Lupus, I experience chronic fatigue, hair loss, skin rashes, nausea, and I take medication every day to prevent the disease from getting worse. In addition to concerns about school and friends, I also worry about doctor’s appointments and blood tests.

Realizing my life has changed, I’ve made conscious decisions to benefit my health and live a stable life. I currently eat a healthier diet, take naps to battle my chronic fatigue, and work hard to monitor my stress levels. I visit my rheumatologist every two months, and I no longer have ten doctors because my condition is now manageable. Even though Lupus is incurable and unpredictable, I’ve become a much stronger young woman. I have had to overcome fatigue to teach dance classes and battle nausea to attend school. Knowing the disease won’t go away, I’ve learned to optimize my life with it. By working with doctors at Children’s Hospital Orange County and Miller Children’s Hospital, I have overcome an obstacle I never expected.

As a teenager suffering from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, the Lupus Foundation of America is an organization that is really close to my heart. Being diagnosed with a life-threatening autoimmune disease at age 15 showed me how strong I was and helped me see how other people face struggles, too. Through the help of the Lupus Foundation of America, I found a support group with other teenage girls, just like me. The organization taught me to embrace my struggle, and it empowered me to reach out to others with the disease.

In August of 2014, I began preparing for the Walk to End Lupus Now Los Angeles by sending out emails to my family and friends about the walk. To share how the donations would help find a cure for this life-threatening disease, I promoted the walk on social media. Many of my family and friends made donations for my team. By the September walk date, my team, “Josie Power,” collectively raised over $400 dollars for the foundation, and was able to spread the word about Lupus. To continue my support for the foundation, I have begun a new project to raise money for my team at an upcoming San Diego walk. Spreading awareness throughout my community, the fundraiser will raise money for the Lupus Foundation of America. Volunteering with the organization has allowed me to relate to many patients and give them hope for the future. The money raised goes to help doctors find a cure, assist patients with their struggles, and bring together support groups. The Lupus Foundation of America has made a significant impact of my life, and it is my responsibility to give back to a community that has helped me so much.

As Miss Garden Grove’s Outstanding Teen, I’ve been given the opportunity to serve communities and represent young woman in our society. Identifying with issues many teens face every day, I can encourage others through my testimony of perseverance and strength. Oftentimes, teens are underestimated, yet they hold the potential to overcome unforeseen challenges and rise above their personal expectations. My involvement in the Miss California’s Outstanding Teen Organization provides me the platform to reach out to others without reservation. In sharing my story, I hope to inspire young woman who face daily struggles and make it clear that anything can be overcome with determination.